All pensioners will be thankful to the retired Director of Museums, Dr. P.H.D.H. de Silva, for so forcefully highlighting the pathetic plight of pensioners in his well written letter published in several national newspapers on September 15. He ends his excellent letter with an apt quotation from Shakespeare: "Blow, blow, thou winter wind, Thou art not so unkind, As man's ingratitude" equally applicable, of course, to woman's ingratitude as well.
In numerous letters that have appeared in national newspapers, the statement has often been made that 90% of the pensioners voted for the PA at the Elections in 1994. There were said to be about 300,000 pensioners in 1994. It is not surprising if the vast majority of them did vote for the PA, deceived by the very attractive promises made in the PA Election Manifesto to lure the votes of gullible pensioners. This is what the PA Manifesto of 1994 said in a special section under the caption "PENSIONERS":"
1. Our attention is particularly drawn to the problems and the plight of pensioners who have spent the best years of their lives for the development of the country and therefore deserve a comfortable life in their retirement. Most of them live in rented houses; in some cases, their children are still young and dependent on them. The repayment of loans and debts erodes the bulk of their pension. In order to remedy this situation, a national programme towards the welfare of pensioners will be launched.
2. Anomalies with regard to pensions will be rectified, and a uniform and equitable structure introduced. Action will be taken to make pensions index-linked. Concessionary fares will be available to senior citizens in respect of public transport.
3. The arrears due from the Rs. 260/- pension allowance will be immediately paid (Note the word "immediately"; arrears of 65 months from January 1988 to May 1994 were due).
4. Special consideration will be given to the children of pensioners when vacancies in their former work places are filled.
5. Suitable steps will be taken to solve the problems that have arisen regarding the security of their property due to long periods of absence while serving in far off places.
6. In cases where there is no beneficiary to receive W&OP benefits, the money deducted from salaries and accumulated interest will be given to the pensioner.
7. A hostel system with all health care and other facilities will be provided at district level to those who need to spend their retirement at leisure. Facilities will be made available to them to pay only a small amount of money to enjoy this benefit.
8. An extra allowance will be added to the pensions of those who have children attending school.
"No wonder that 90% of the 300,000 pensioners claim to have voted for the PA Government in the hope of getting the above far reaching benefits. But not a single of these promises has been fulfilled. 90% would amount to 270,000 votes of pensioners. To this number must be added the votes of their family members - at least of their spouses, where such spouses were alive in 1994. But let us reduce the claimed 90% to 70%, considering that about 70% of public officers definitely voted for the PA, as revealed from the Postal Voting figures officially published. 70% will amount to 210,000 votes of pensioners. Assuming that one third had lost their spouses and were widowers or widows, add 140,00 spouses' votes, and one gets a total of 350,000 votes from pensioners and their spouses. Not that the total majority the PA gained over the UNP was only 389,453 votes (3,887,823 votes for the PA as against 3,498,370 for the UNP).
Thus Dr. P.H.D.H. de Silva is quite justified in saying that the President "now feels that being in power she could kick the ladder that helped her into power". He is also quite frank in including himself in the category of those "dumb, gullible old men who placed faith in the President and her Party men".
I refer to the article by Marlon Fernandopulle on 6th October 1996.
Our cricketers have immense talent, and it is Whatmore who harnessed this talent and built this team to be World Champions. The Sri Lanka Cricket Board must realise that they are responsible and answerable to the cricketing public of Sri Lanka as well - not only to the Minister of Sports. The quote from Mr. Dharmadasa that "the reasons for Dav's departure is best known to himself only", just goes to show the attitude of the Cricket Board. Why don't you find out the reasons and do something about it? Dav Whatmore's commitment to the upliftment of the national team has been total. There is nothing more that we could ask of him. Has he been rewarded adequately for his superb performance?
Mr. Dharmadasa in his position must come out with the truth viz:
1. Why was the press censorship imposed on the coach?
2. Why was the fee usually paid during a home series, not paid?
3. The "certain privileges' enjoyed by the coach were curtailed. Why?
Is this another case of petty jealousies, which usually emanates from the Sri Lankans towards their successful countrymen? Didn't you want Whatmore to succeed in his job? And hasn't he done so? Mr. Dharmadasa, we love our cricketers and we are proud, very proud of their performances. We are a concerned public - and now, we need some straight answers from you personally. Tell us truthfully, why did you make Whatmore's job so untenable, that he had to resign? We need, no, we demand your answers NOW.
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